Inline skates could make a big comeback with a new electric version that has tank-like undersides for wheeling around on grass and dirt. No Spandex necessary this time around, though.

Dubbed "Off-Road Rollerblades," these skates have a battery-powered 350W DC motor at the back of each boot. Rubber track blades can handle rough surfaces, and a cabled handheld controller adjusts the speed.

The inline skates can reach up to 9 miles per hour and go 12 miles before the batteries need recharging, Gizmag reported.

These new speedy kicks come from Polish transportation tinkerer Jack Skopinski. Last year his Warsaw-based company Aero-Service grabbed attention for a bright green four-wheeled tilting scooter called the EV4 that can lean into turns.

Skopinski designed the inline skates as a form of personal transportation that could be tossed into a bag between trips, he told Gizmag. They retail for 5,500 Polish zloty, which is around $1,400. Skopinski also plans to make electric inline skates for city-dwellers. (In case you were wondering, the original Rollerblades still exist.)

My first reaction to the skates was to laugh, but giving them more thought I can see their potential over distances too short for hauling out a bike yet long enough to make walking annoying. The off-roading aspect gives them flexibility, and they're likely easier to keep secure than a scooter - or a Segway.

Design-wise, I hope Skopinski gives the handheld controller a bright, happy color. Otherwise it might be mistaken for something more sinister. Plus, the gearbox and wires at the back could be sleeker. If you're spending that much on new wheels, you really want them to say "I just upgraded from a hoverboard."